Askja – Cats Of the Week – November 19th, 2018

askja in her box

This wee's cat of the week is Askja. She comes nominated to us by reddit user TrisWolfe and we thank her for sharing!

Askja was only supposed to stay with Tris and her boyfriend for a couple months when she moved in as a foster kitty in the beginning of 2018! At the same time they brought her daughter Chloe home as a full on adoption, but now they are hoping to one day fully adopt Askja too.

askja in a tub

The first couple days Askja was a little skeptical about her new home here. This is understandable since she was over two years old at the time and cats don't adjust to new places quickly. But now Askja really seems to feel at home with Tris and her feline friends. She's settled in like a champion!

askja in Tris's boyfriend's lap

Askja loves to cuddle in laps. Askja absolutely loves (actually, “love” is an understatement) Tris's boyfriend! Fortunately for Askja Tris and her boyfriend live together so he's almost always around! Askja loves spending time in his lap, purring and kneading.

She likes cuddling with Tris too, but when she has the choice it’s always him. He’s the whole world for her. Tthis reminds me of my cat Beast with my wife and I, she follows me everywhere, but I digress!

askja in her box

Aside from Tris's boyfriend's lap, Askja also likes to rest in her tiny cardboard box. They don’t have the heart to throw the box because Askja loves it so much.

askja relaxing in a chair

Askja isn’t much for toys. Askja's daughter Chloe and the other cat, Ariel, love to play with pens. Askja seems to ignore them though. But when Askja finally feels like playing with something nothing will stop her from doing so! Not even the other cats being in her way. She just jumps right over them and keeps on running around with whatever she is playing with.

askja in a tiny box

Despite Askja not being very playful, there is one thing she can’t resist: the laser pointer. If Tris or her boyfriend touch it so it makes the slightest sound she’ll come running with pupils so large that her eyes look entirely black.

askja relaxing along the wall

She knows what’s about to happen. She'll stands there with her eyes wide open looking down on the floor  waiting for that red dot to appear. It warms my heart every time to see her so excited!

StuffCatsWant thanks Tris for sending us Askja as Cat of the Week!  To submit your cat please email Craig@StuffCatsWant.com and include 5 pictures and 400 words about your cat!

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Cats are Furds and Furd is the Word

By Craig / November 16, 2018
cats are furds and furd is the word

I’m going to try something a little different in the realm of cat related writing today.

For those of you who are faint of heart and can’t take cat shaming you may wish to move on and read something else.

For those of you who think that cats deserve a little shame from time to time please do keep on reading, but note the article is written completely in jest and I love my cats!


Using the Word Furd In Every Day English

Recently my wife and I have coined a new word. It is pretty simple, furd. This is the joining of fur and turd.

See the beautiful image below in case you’re having trouble understanding.

This is what I’d like to say my cats are, they are furds. They are furds for a ton of reasons we’ll get into later, but first let’s get into the many uses of the word. It is quite versatile as you’ll see.

  • Noun: My cat is a furd because she scratches the couch in front of me when she has a scratching post 2 feet away.
  • Verb: Yeah, my cat is furding it up right now. She just wolfed down her food and keeps puking all over the house.
  • Adjective: My cat is really furdy, she wakes me up every night at 3:00 AM to meow for treats.
  • Adverb: Your cat furdly walked over the dinner table and left litter everywhere (yeah, that one was a stretch, adverbs are hard).

Now I’d even like to take this a step farther. I theorize that all cats are furds.

You might say, what about the Spynx, or the Devon Rex? And I’d say you have to do your research! They still have fur and they are still furds in my book. Even if they were truly furless I’d argue that if they have similar behavior to most ‘cats’ they may be more turd than cat.


What Defines the Word Furd?

I’ve created a list of activities that define what a furd is. I suggest you read through the list and then determine if your cat is a furd or not.

This isn’t a multi step evaluation process we’re talking either. If they exhibit any of the below behavior I say they are a furd!

Note these are only the first 20 reasons I thought of that your cat might be a furd.

There are way more undocumented, perhaps an infinite number.

So here they are, the 20 behaviors that mean you’ve got a furd on your hands:

  1. Every piece of clothing you own is covered in cat fur and there’s a lint roller in every closet. You’ve got a furd!
  2. Your cat pretends to stay off the counters, but the second she thinks you’re gone she sprawls for a nap in your kitchen. That’s furding in full force.
  3. If your cat jumps on your crotch in the middle of the night (what I call ‘ball jumping’) then your cat is a furd.
  4. If your cat meows and meows at your door and as soon as you open it simply walks away then your cat is a furd.
  5. Does your cat use the litter box and then not clean up after and walk around showing your her dirty butt? She’s a furd!
  6. You can watch your cat purposely push valuables off of high shelves while they stare at you. Furd!
  7. After using the litter box your cat tracks litter all over your house despite 3 litter mats and a forced jump. Now that’s a furd!
  8. When your cat eats too fast and throws up all over the place, but then goes back and eats more, that’s what I call furding it up.
  9. Despite your best efforts your cat continues to use your houseplants his or her personal bathroom. Furdtacular.
  10. Do you lay blankets on your furniture to minimize cat hair? Then find your cat laying on the one uncovered spot? Silly furd.
  11. Your cat hides where you can’t find her just to make you look for her then that is full on furd behavior!
  12. If your furball yowls like crazy when they see another cat outside then sprays indoors you’ve got yourself a furd.
  13. Your cat tries to sneak outside often, but when you take her out on a leash and harness she only wants back in. I say furd!
  14. You’ve purchased numerous expensive toys but he’ll only play with hair ties or milk caps. 100% furd behavior!
  15. You find poop stains on your windowsills from uncleaned cat butt. Gross. That’s furdy behavior.
  16. If she just stares at you when you serve her expensive healthy food but loves her cheap junk food. What a prissy furd!
  17. You’ve got to brush him daily cause he’s got so much fluff, but he swats and scratches you when you try. Furd!
  18. When you open the the utility room and your cat bolts behind the furnace to emerge covered in more dust than any vacuum has ever seen. Clean me human! What a furd!
  19. You constantly find tipped over bowls of water because your cat likes to play in it. Not cool at all. Very furdy.
  20. Whoever you adopted it from told you it was a cat. They are all in cahoots. They are already furd slaves. It’s a furd!

I might argue that the entire list of bad cat behavior available on BadKitty would indicate your cat is a furd.  You should review the entire list in case you still suspect your cat isn’t a furd.


Should We Be Worried About the Furds?

Now I suspect that furds have lived side by side with us for thousands of years. Perhaps since the Egyptians first took them as creatures worth worshiping.

I do wonder though if Pharaohs were responsible for scooping their furd’s litter boxes. I assume not. Anyway, I digress.

My theory is that furds are waiting until they reach a peak in power and they ingrained in every single household worldwide.

Once they’ve achieved this feat they will likely rise up and destroy us humans or simply take total control of the world.

I know my home is already completely run by furds. You can see the details of their home domination strategies [INSERT LINK].

All in all it isn’t bad. We just live to serve their every need and in return we get their disdain. Pretty sweet deal.

In summary, you should not be worried for your health or safety. Only whether or not you’ll get to control where you spend your time and money in the future.

Furds are kind masters for the most part!


Enjoying the Fact That The Furd Is the Word

Now as soon as you heard the word furd I bet you weren’t thinking of this song. That’s because I put that nasty picture of a furry turd up there and you were probably thinking to yourself ‘Well that’s gross.’

But now that I’ve got your attention back I’d like you to think of this amazing song by the Trashmen called Surfin’ Bird.

Then you should consider replacing ‘Bird’ in this song with ‘Furd’ and singing it end to end while dancing just like he does.

And if you’re not a Trashmen fan you can always revert to how Peter Griffin in Family Guy does it instead.


Spread the Word About the Furds

So come on and help me spread the word. Furd is the word folks. Get it out there, get it to the presses.

Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your neighbors.

You probably shouldn’t tell your furds though. They probably wouldn’t like that we’ve discovered their secret.

If you think you actually have a cat instead of a furd then I invite you to comment below and explain the behavior of your suspected ‘cat.’ We may need to establish 24 hour surveillance for proof such a creature exists.

If you happen to have a contribution to the list or just want to explain why your cats are furds please comment below.

Cat Crazies Playrings Toy Review

cat crazies play rings review

Cat Crazies Playrings Toy Review

The Cat Crazies Playrings are a toy designed specifically for cats to bat around on smooth floors. They mimic the action provided by a milk jug top or a a rubber band, but they're specifically designed with cats in mind!

Product Name:


Cat Crazies Playrings Cat Toy

Product Type:


Cat Toy

Summary:


If your cat absolutely loves batting around things like rubber bands, milk jug tops or even a gear tie then Cat Crazies are going to be a perfect fit.  These come in packages of 4 colored rings (red, yellow, pink, blue) and my cats took an immediately liking to them.

So long as you've got a wood or tile floor these toys are going to get batted, chased, and smacked all over the place. Each playring is a little over an inch in diameter and ridges have been built into them to make them bounce more erratically to keep your cat engaged for longer periods.


Watch the Video Review

If you're more interested in seeing these in action then check out the video review right here.  You can skip ahead to ​2:00 minutes ​to see Beast knocking them around. It is always tough to get film or pictures of your cats playing with toys, but Beast was generous this time around!



How Big Are They?

They're generally quite similar to the ring that comes off the top of a gallon of milk. They are about an inch and a half across in diameter.  This picture of all four of them in my hand should give you a little bit better of idea of their overall size.

cat crazies in my hand

Are They Durable?

Ours have lasted a solid six months without any issue from chewing and batting on a pretty consistent basis. Beast absolutely loves them and knocks them around constantly.

If you do have a cat that is a dedicated chewer they probably won't hold up to an extended attack. They're certainly going to last longer than the ring off the top of a milk jug, but they are still made of plastic and susceptible to damage from ravaging cat teeth.

Here's a quote directly from someone with a kitten:

"My kitten chews through milk rings in a day and I still have all of these..." -Amazon Reviewer

Will My Cat Play With Them?

This is always the toughest question to answer when it comes to any cat toy.  My cats absolutely love them, Beast especially.

But the short of it is, I don't know if your cat will play with them. To say the least, there are a heck of a lot of reviews across both Chewy and Amazon that indicate cats love them.

Way more reviews say cats play with them, they have an 87% recommendation rate on Chewy. One of the biggest benefits here is that since these toys are under the $5 dollar price tag you're not out a lot of cash if your cats decide to ignore them. Just donate them to a local shelter if that's the case.

If you want to see what kind of action these toys provide check out the video review above. You can see Beast knocking them around quite a bit. If your cat likes to smack around toys like this then you'll likely have a hit on your hands!

Another thing you can try if you run into your cats ignoring them...Try giving them a spray of concentrated catnip oil to get them going. If your cat likes the bathtub (empty) you might also see some success by dropping them in the bathtub where they're in a contained area.


Who Makes Them And Where?

These toys are actually sold by a couple of different companies from what I can find. The biggest and most well known company I've found that produces them is Pet Mate which is a well trusted cat product manufacturer. 

The toys are produced in China according to the packaging. They are distributed from a wide range of places in the States because many smaller organizations are buying and reselling them across Amazon. They're also available on Chewy.com.

The packaging may vary as well, mine came in a blue package, but the current version looks like this:


What's the Biggest Drawback?

There are really only two things that frustrate me about these toys quite a bit and for the most part there's nothing the manufacturer can do to help solve them.

First and foremost, they get whacked underneath things in the house  quite easily. Call it the couch, or the the fridge, or even the oven. Either way at some point you're likely to have to shove a piece of furniture out of the way or going looking around for them when your cat starts meowing at what appears to be "nothing" because they've lost them.

Second, and this one is easily solved by you, they are not a quiet toy when they are being played with. Plastic getting knocked around and sliding across a wood floor makes quite a bit of racket and to say the least I am a light sleeper. Because of this I need to collect them each night before I go to sleep. If I don't I'm bound to wake up to Beast batting them around in the living room.


Cat Crazies Playrings Toy Review Wrap Up

All in all cat crazies have been one of the best purchases we have made for our cats. We bough them on a whim while purchasing cat food and they've been a huge hit.  The only real problem I have with them is that they get stuck under the couch and chairs in the house...and this happens to almost ever toy we have.


4.5

The Good Stuff:
  • Super Simple & Fun
  • Both Our Cats Love Them
  • Comes in a pack of 4
  • Super Cheap
  • Extremely durable
  • Bounces erratically
  • Sized Intelligently (most toys are too big I feel)
The Bad Stuff:
  • They get caught under the couches and chairs in the house quite easily
  • They can be painful to step on when they are left out
  • They can be noisy when your cats play with them at night
  • Doesn't Meet CA Prop 65

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Luna and Riceball – Cats Of the Week – November 12th, 2018

Riceball and Luna sitting together

This week's cat of the week comes from Sally and it is two cats, Luna and Riceball! Sally's family is in the process of adopting a third cat from a shelter to join Luna and Riceball!

Riceball is a Scottish Fold and he’s 10 months old. He is the older of the two but apparently he’s quite the wimp! He was scared of people and when he first came home he didn't meow at all.

Now, he meows very loudly at 5 in the morning because he wants his breakfast! Sounds to me like​ an automated cat feeder might​be in their future!

Riceball doesn't like being held or hugged unless he’s still waking and and is sleepy.

luna sleeping

The Ragdoll you see is named Luna and she’s about three months old, still a full on kitten! Even though she’s the younger one she bullies Riceball. She has so much energy and a bottomless stomach as most kittens do.

She was super tiny when Sally's family got her but she ate so much that she’s grown a lot. Luna doesn’t meow! Instead she makes adorable little squeaking sounds. If you’re not next to her then you won’t be able to hear her.

The only exception is if you’re pulling her away from food, then she squeaks like you’re killing her. When it’s dinner time, the family always have to have someone watching the two because Luna eats super fast and will run over and steal Riceball’s food.

luna and riceball on their cat tree

Since Riceball has a very mild temperament, he lets her get away with everything! Sally and her family even bought a cat tree for Riceball and he loved it. Then when Luna came along and he let her have the tree all to herself.

Riceball is very sweet because he doesn’t scratch or bite you if you’re doing something he doesn’t like. This is why he’s easier to dress up and take pictures.

Luna and Riceball sleeping together

Although they didn’t like each other in the first week Luna came home they have now become inseparable. Luna follows her older brother around everywhere and Riceball is very curious about Luna too. If Sally takes Luna to a separate room Riceball will curiously follow us and make sure that she’s ok before leaving.

riceball outside in a harness sniffing

The one thing Riceball absolutely loves to do is go outside to the backyard. He meows every morning and night to go out. Even though Luna isn’t very fond of going outside she follows him outside. ​

Riceball has proven himself to be a super smart cat! He knows how to shake hands, high five, roll over, and stand. His family is also trying to teach him how to do a "please motion" but it has proven a little difficult.

The family also attempted to teach Luna, but they aren't trying that again. At least not until she grows up a bit more! The two cats have very unique and different personalities but they love them the way they are!

StuffCatsWant thanks Sally and her family for participating in Cat of the Week!  To submit your cat please email Craig@StuffCatsWant.com and include 5 pictures and 400 words about your cat!

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

OdorKlenz Pet Litter Additive Review

OdorKlenz Pet Litter Additive Review

OdorKlenz Pet Litter Additive Review

The OdorKlenz Pet Litter Additive is a simple powder additive that you can mix into your cat's litter box to help control bad scents from cat urine or cat excrement.

Product Name:


OdorKlenz Pet Litter Additive

Product Type:


Cat Litter Scent Control Additive

Summary:


With this simple additive you can help minimize the more pungent smells that might come rolling out of your cat's litter box from time to time. Whether it is a sustained smell or a temporarily smell immediately after use, OdorKlenz will help minimize it by simply dropping a scoop inside and mixing it into the litter.

It is super easy to use, each package comes with an ample supply for an extended period of time, and you'll immediately notice a decline in foul smells coming from your cat's litter box upon adding it.

Do you dread scooping your cat's litter box because it stinks to high heaven? Or do you need to keep it in a room nobody else will go in because every time one of your cats goes to the bathroom nobody can go in the room for 30 minutes until it airs out?

If any of this sound familiar then you've come to the right place. OdorKlenz is specifically designed to help handle exactly this type of situation.  It is super simple to use and it'll make an immediate impact on any smells coming from your litter box.


How Does It Work?

It is pretty simple to be honest, you add it to your cat's litter box and it attacks any odors right at the source and neutralizes them immediately.

This means the smell never even gets a chance to leave the litter box once your kitty starts kicking his or her litter around to cover up their business.

Do keep in mind this isn't a masking agent. It isn't a stronger scent to cover up the scent from your cat's urine or feces. When I open the container and take a huge whiff right at the top I don't notice any scent at all.

This is important because it means the product isn't simply covering up the previous scent and smell. It is instead removing it.

On top of this the lack of scent also makes it far less likely to cause any trouble with your feline friends.

a small image of the odorklenz litter additive

Does It Bother the Cats At All?

My cats didn't even notice it was there. I haven't noticed even a slight change in their behavior from the moment I dumped it in the litter box to the two full weeks of use before writing this review.

On top of this if I leave the canister open and set it on the floor both of my cats will happily come up and smell the product. They don't bolt or run away when it is around. They don't seem to mind it at all.

my cat beast sniffing the odorklenz cat litter additive

This is very important for anything going in the litter box as most cats don't particularly like scented litter. It tends to cause litter box usage issues. This product hasn't caused a single issue and neither of my cats seem to mind it in the slights.

On the other hand my wife and I absolutely love the effect it has had so far on eliminating nasty odors from the room we keep our litter box in.


What's In It?

While the specific formula is proprietary, there are only a couple of ingredients at work. All of them are listed right on the outside of the bottle:

  • Soda Ash
  • Magnesium Oxide
  • Zinc Oxide
  • Titanium Dioxide
  • Sodium Carbonate

Is It Dangerous?

As long as you keep it out of eyes and mouth it shouldn't pose any threat to you or your cats. 

If you do happen to get it in your eyes you'll need to flush them immediately. 

If you happen to ingest it you'll want to drink a large glass of water and call a poison control center just in case. 

It should definitely be kept out of the reach of children.

back label of odorklenz

Does It Have Any Other Uses?

The core use is absolutely in the litter box as shown below, but you can also use OdorKlenz to help clean up urine accidents around the house or outside of the litter box.

odorklenz being used in a litter box

To clean up an accident outside of the litter box simply dump the OdorKlenz right on top of the urine puddle (as you might with sawdust for a spill) then sweep it into a dust pan. Simple and easy.

It should make the actual liquid spill cleanup a breeze and it should also help out with ensuring the scent is eliminated as well!


Watch the Video Review Here


OdorKlenz Pet Litter Additive

All in all this has proven to be a great product to add to our arsenal of items around the house to minimize the impact our cats have on our lives.  


4.5

The Good Stuff:
  • Helps Control Odors
  • Super Easy to Use
  • Cats Aren't Bothered
  • Perfume and Fragrance Free


The Bad Stuff:
  • Using it for accidents outside the litter box would be expensive
  • The directions don't indicate how much to add to your litter box so you have to guess

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

The 17 Best Automatic Cat Feeders 2021 [Set It & Forget It!]

a woman feeding her cat wishing she had one of the best automatic cat feeders

If you're looking for a way to feed your cat automatically then you've come to the right place.  An auto feeder can help ensure your cat doesn't go hungry for any reason: work, waking you up early, keeping you up late, etc.

So pop open the quick guide below and find the best automatic cat feeders of 2018. You'll find ones dedicated to helping your cat eat more slowly and ones dedicated to feeding your kitty if you're simply away at work.


The Best Automatic Cat Feeders


#1 WOpet 7L Automatic Cat Feeder

an cat feeder that is a tall and white rectangle

WOpet brings one of the best auto feeders available to the market. Not only does it come with tons of amazing features that every cat owner will love, but it also comes with a boatload of rave reviews from owners (beyond myself).

If you purchase this automatic feeder you will not regret it one bit. If anything you'll relish in the additional sleep you get or the confidence you have that your feline friend has a full tummy while you're away! 

Key features worth noting on this model are:

  • You can schedule up to 4 automated feedings per day using the built-in programmable time
  • Program each meal time with a few button clicks on an easy to use LCD screen
  • Features a built in microphone and speaker so you can record a custom message for fluffy
  • Control food portions from 2 teaspoons to 4.5 cups per feeding
  • The tray is removable and dishwasher safe for easy disinfecting
  • Runs primarily on a wall powered plug, but can operate on three D batteries too
"I really can't recommend this highly enough. It gives me peace of mind when I get stuck at work late!"
"I got him this because I can't always be home at mealtimes due to work. This feeder allows me to give him a specific amount of food at set times of day."

A few things you may want to consider before purchasing:

  • This model is only good for dry food, you can't use it for wet food.

#2 SureFeed Microchip Cat Feeder

the surefeed automatic pet feeder

This is by far one of my favorite products I've ever purchased for my cats. The primary reason I needed it was because one of my cats steals my other cat's food. The SureFeed Mircochip feeder allows my little Beast to graze all day while keeping Lexi's roving jaws away from her food.

The claim to fame on this feeder, and it does work without fail, is that you can link your cat's Microchip to the feeder and it'll open up only for that cat. Pretty darn cool and helps minimize food thieving! A few other things worth noting:

  • Works great for both wet or dry food, the seal keeps wet food fresh for a few hours
  • Extremely easy to setup and link your cat's microchip to the feeder, stores up to 30 chips
  • If your cat doesn't have a chip it comes with a chip that can be attached to your cat's collar
  • The lid has various settings to open/close so you can quickly train your cat to use it
  • Runs on 4 C batteries and the battery life has been well over 6 months in my experience
  • Super easy to load and to clean, comes with two dishwasher safe bowls
"The SureFeed feeder has eliminated our cat's food anxiety and restored our sanity! And it helps stop my other cat from stealing his food so they can both stop gaining weight."

This model is designed primarily to limit access to food, so definitely consider the following:

  • There is no portion control or timed release schedule on this model

#3 Westlink 6L Automatic Feeder

a white, tall rectangular feeder for cats with brown trim and a button panel on the front

If you're looking to keep your cat healthy and happy then you want to make sure he or she gets the right amount of food at the right time. This can be difficult to do if you're busy at work all day or if your cat likes meals at inopportune times.

Getting the Westlink Auto Feeder is a great way to keep your cat happy which will help keep you happy! Key features worth noting on this model are:

  • Program it to dispense up to 4 meals a day on the easy to use screen
  • ​Each meal dispense from 1-39 Portions, Each Portion is around 10-12g
  • Built in infrared detection which can prevent food waste by detecting food in the bowl
  • Runs on a USB cord or on 3 D batteries in case you want it where there's no plug
  • You can record a full 10 second message to play each time food is dispensed
"I've had about 5 different auto feeders in the past 10 years and this one is by far the easiest to set up, tune, clean, fill, power, and travel with.

A few things you may want to consider before purchasing:

  • This model is made only to dispense dry cat food
  • Maximum food size is .39" x .39" otherwise it will jam (this is huge for cats anyway)

#4 Petutor 6L Cat Food Dispenser

a blue and white automatic cat food dispenser

This model is going to have a lot of similarities to the Westlink model that is listed above. The key distinction between the two of them is really in the color combination available. Beyond that there's not a ton of difference.

If you're looking for a way to keep your cat's tummy full so they get the right level of nutrition then this is a great option! Key things you'll want to consider on this model:

  • It has a total capacity of 6 liters of food which is plenty for a long time between refills
  • It can dispense between 1 and 39 portions each time and a portion is about 10-12 grams of food
  • You can set 4 different meals at different times of the day and each can be turned on or off
  • You can record your voice to play each time food is dispensed for your kitty
  • An infrared sensor is built in to help minimize food getting stuck in the dispenser chute
  • It runs on a USB cord or on 3D batteries in case of a power outage

A few things you may want to consider:

  • You cannot load wet food into this dispenser

#5 Petnet 2nd Gen Smart Feeder

a black futuristic looking auto feeding machine for a cat

If you're looking for a feeder that will help you make decisions then this is the model for you. Petnet's app is definitely a cut above the rest. It'll give you recommendations on portions for your cat based on a quick survey.

It'll also let you know when it is running low on food and needs a refill. Are we getting close to sentient cat feeders? It appears so! It is even smart enough to recharge itself and run for 2 full days without power! A few other items worth noting:

  • Compatible phone app for iOS and Android to make programming and feeding easy
  • The Petnet App will recommend personalized meal portions based on pet breed/age/weight/activity (you should verify with your vet)
  • Petnet will notify you when your pet has been fed and when it needs a refill
  • The bowl is 100% dishwasher safe to help keep your kitty happy and healthy
  • Plugs into the wall and has a built-in rechargeable backup battery with 2 days of battery life
  • Purchase includes free trial of Petnet Smart Delivery: Food delivered to your door just in time to keep it fresh for your cat

A few things you may want to consider:

  • It isn't recommended for multiple pets, it is designed for a single cat
  • Requires a 2.4 GHz modem (b/g/n band) in order to operate (note most home modems are fine)

#6 Arf Pets Dry Food Dispenser

a white automatic feeder for cats with a locking lid

If you're looking to keep reaching paws out of your automatic cat food dispenser then this is a great option for you. Not only will they not be able to reach up from the bottom, but the top has a magnetic locking lid too!

If you've got one of those crafty kitties that has found their way into other feeders then this might be the right fit for you! A couple of other things that you should know about this model:

  • You can set 4 meals a day and each meal can have 1-10 portions (a portion is 24 ml)
  • It has a capacity of about 4.3 liters
  • It has a magnetic locking lid to keep searching paws out of the food reservoir
  • The LCD lights up blue and features a clock & display with super easy settings
  • It runs on 3 D Batteries or a regular power cable to an outlet
  • You can use the built in mic and speaker to record 10 second meal calls
"Every aspect of this feeder has proven to be above and beyond my expectations!"

​One thing you may want to consider before making a purchase:

  • Large sized kibble doesn't seem to work well with this model and may jam it

#7 Iseebiz Automatic Cat Feeder

a modern looking cat food dispenser

Looking for something a bit more modern? Tired of very functional square and rectangular shaped feeders? Then check out this awesome feeder from Iseebiz!

It has a ton of the great features other models have, but it certainly looks a heck of a lot cooler! Let's dig into the key items worth noting:

  • Features 4 meal settings per day with 1-39 portions per meal, a portion is 10-12 grams
  • The total capacity is about 3 liters so you've got lots of space for a long period of time
  • There's an infrared detector built in to minimize jamming in the food chute
  • It is made of completely BPA free plastic
  • Meal calls can be recorded and played at the time of feeding
  • Uses a standard USB power supply or 3 D batteries in case of a power outage
"My cat can't break into this thing, it is like the Fort Knox of cat food!!!!"

​You'll want to consider the following before you push that buy button:

  • It can be difficult to open the top of this model to refill the food unless you have large hands

#8 HoneyGuardian 6 Meal Cat Feeder

an auto feeder for cats that looks like an astronaut helmet

If you're looking for one of the most versatile feeders on the market then Honey Guardian absolutely has you covered. You can choose from a huge variety of portion sizes on this model and you get a total of 6 meals a day instead of the traditional 4 meals a day most feeders provide.

A couple of key things any buyer would want to know and a full video review are below:

  • It allows for 6 meals to be programmed each day, more than the normal 4 you get
  • The storage container holds a total of about 2.8 liters of food
  • You can record meal time calls for your kitty and it has infrared anti jamming technology
  • It will run on both USB power as well as 3 D batteries in case the power goes out
"With this feeder, it's impossible for Winston to finagle more food like he used to. He sticks his little paws up there, body slams it, and meows, but not so much as a single kibble pops out. Then he leaves disappointed. The machine is boss."

#9 Petsafe Slow Mode Feeder

a large capacity black automatic cat food dispenser

If you need the ability to drop numerous meals or slow meals then you've come to the right place. Maybe you have numerous cats or you you've got a cat that is prone to getting sick if they eat too fast. 

Whatever reason you might have, this model gives you the ability to do 12 programmed meals a day. A few other major items wroth noting:

  • The biggest selling point is the capacity to program in 12 meals a day
  • Each meal can be from 1/8th of a cup up to 4 cups and it has a 24 cup capacity
  • Slow Feed mode dispenses food over 15 minutes to prevent bloat and vomiting
  • Uses an innovative conveyor that dispenses most dry and semi-moist foods
  • It can run on either battery power (4 Ds) or on a conventional power plug

​One thing you'll want to keep in mind before purchase is:

  • The power adapter is not included and is kind of ridiculous price wise

#10 Pet Safe Smart WiFi Feeder

If you're tech savvy and you're looking for a kick butt smart feeder for your cats then this is a great option to consider! Fully accessible on either iOS or on Android by mobile app and you can program it right from your phone!

It also has a lot of the options available from the Pet Safe premier slow feeder in this article. Key features worth noting on this model are:

  • Fully compatible iOS and Android app to make programming and feeding easy
  • You've got the ability to program up 12 meals a day and use the 'feed now' option for one offs
  • Meals can range from 1/8th of a cup all the way up to 4 full cups if you have multiple cats
  • There's a total capacity of 24 cups of food in the reservoir
  • Slow Feed uses a unique conveyor belt to drop food over 15 preventing bloating and vomiting
  • It can run on either 4 D batteries (not included) or on a conventional power plug (included)
  • Locking lid and a stainless steel bowl for additional safety for your cat
  • There is a food chute splitter available from a 3rd party to dump the food in multiple bowls

​One key item worth noting before you make your purchase:

  • Requires a 2.4 GHz modem (b/g/n band) in order to operate (note most home modems are fine)

#11 PetSafe 6 Meal Carousel Feeder

If you're looking for an option that is very unlikely to jam or run into food locking issues then this is a great option. This model doesn't use an augur to dispense food out of the reservoir, instead you preset the portions yourself and it simply drops them down the open chute.

Each time a new meal is programmed to drop the carousel inside turns and then immediately opens. This ensures that prying paws can't access the next meal. A few other things worth noting:

  • This model allows for up to 6 meals to be programmed: 1 a day, 2 a day, etc.
  • Each meal can have up to 1 full cup of dry or semi moist food in it
  • It requires 4 D alkaline batteries which have an estimated battery life of 9 months
  • Both the bowl and the food tray are removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
  • Also features a feed now button to easily deploy the next meal immediately
  • The built-in digital clock and LCD display makes setting up meals a breeze
"This automatic feeder has virtually eliminated our cat's food anxiety and restored our sanity!"

​One key item worth noting on this model before you move forward:

  • There is no plug available to power this feeder so you'll always depend on batteries

#12 Cat Mate Wet/Dry Auto Feeder

a feeder shaped like a large disc with 5 rotating trays

If you're looking for an auto feeder that can support wet food then you've come to the right place. The Cat mate C500 is specifically designed to accommodate both wet and dry food. Most feeders are only good for dry food so this is a huge win!

This model works by prepping the meals in advance and then sealing the top over the tray. The tray rotates inside and makes each new meal available at the programmed time. A few other items worth noting:

  • There are a total of 5 food compartments that each hold up to 11.5 oz of wet food
  • A simple LED display makes it easy to program all 5 meals and shows all 5 times
  • Both the bowl and the lid are super easy to remove and are dishwasher safe
  • Twin reusable ice packs are included and help keep the wet food safe and fresh
  • The digital timer is operated by 3 AA batteries with a battery life of about a year
  • Can be easily secured to a wooden board for additional stability to stop prying paws
"My food obsessed fur ball has yet to break into it, quite a feat!!"

A few things you may want to consider:

  • Buying the Cat Mate ice packs is expensive, opt for an alternative after you measure them
  • There is no plug available to power this feeder so you'll always depend on batteries

#13 Crown Feeder & Water Dispenser

a black spaceship shuttle looking automatic feeder for cats and a water dispenser side by side

Looking for a combination feeder and water dispenser that match and look great together? You've found the right fit right here. Crown's Platinum feeder and side by side water dispenser kill two birds with one stone.

They provide a great automatic feeder with 4 programmable meals a day and they keep a constant supply of water available too. 

  • You can schedule up to 4 different feeding times per day with portions ranging from 1/8th of a cup up to a full cup of dry cat food
  • Has a huge 4.4 pound reservoir to hold dry cat food
  • You can record 12 second meal calls with your feeder to let your kitty know it is coming
  • Can be either plugged in or powered by 4 AA batteries
  • It includes a detachable water drinking bowl and hopper extension
  • It comes with a stainless steel bowl that is both removable and of course dishwasher safe
"Perfect for a con artist like my kitty that tries to beg her way into extra meals multiple times a day!"

​It is worth considering the following if you're ​thinking of this one specifically for the water reservoir:


#14 Sailnovo Food & H20 Combo

a combination water and food dispenser for cats

Designed to put both water and food in the same station, this option gives you both a gravity driven water dispenser and a set of 4 rotating food trays. This option is on the low profile side compared to some of the other larger feeders out there.

A few other things worth noting ​to prospective buyers:

  • You can program up to 4 meals per day (wet or dry) with the easy to use LCD screen
  • Dual button unlocking ensures that your pet won't be able to change the settings
  • It features a gravity driven water dispenser built into the top which helps stop pets from tipping it
  • Features meal calls so you can record your voice each time a new meal is exposed
  • The rotating food tray is powered by 3 D batteries and has an anti slip base
"It is a trustworthy auto feeder and it does the job as well as any robot could be expected to!!"

One thing you may want to consider before purchasing this option:

  • There is no plug available to power this feeder so you'll always depend on batteries

#15 5 Meal Disc Feeder (Dry and Wet)

a disc shaped feeder with 5 compartments for cat food

A great option among low to the ground disc shaped feeders, this model by Tydynasty Design gives you the option to go with a total of 5 meals of wet or dry food. This is a great option if you have a cat that only goes for wet food.

A couple of other key items worth noting on this model:

  • The meal compartments rotate open at the desired time, there are 5 slots at 240 ml each
  • You can set up to 4 designated meal times (one slot is always open) 
  • Meal calls can be recorded and replayed up to 3 times each time a meal is rotated
  • It runs on either a wall plug or on 4 C batteries in case of an outage
  • Has a built in locking mechanism to keep curious pets out of additional food slots
  • It is made completely of BPA free plastic so it is safe around your kitty

​One key item worth considering for this disc feeder is:

  • There is no ice pack in this model, you can use it for wet food but not over long periods

#16 Petsafe 5 Meal Disc Feeder

a disc feeder with 5 slots

Petsafe has been in the industry for over 28 years now and they still continue to develop high quality products that help pet owners take better care of their animals. The Petsafe 5 Meal auto feeder is no exception.

This is a great rotating disc style feeder that will ensure your cat gets the food she needs when you're not home. A few key features worth noting:

  • The LCD display makes setting meals a breeze with easy to use buttons.
  • Each of the 5 slots holds up to a full cup of food: dry or semi wet food recommended
  • You can use full on wet food and use a spare tray to hold ice and keep it cool
  • Removable tray carousel is dishwasher safe for convenient cleaning
  • Has a suspend feeding button to maintain the schedule while you temporarily stop it
  • It runs on 4 D batteries
  • It is made of BPA-free plastic so it is safe for your feline friend
"Best product I bought in decades and my cat loves it!"

​Keep this in mind before pushing the purchase button:

  • There is no plug available to power this feeder so you'll always depend on batteries

#17 Antblocker Auto Cat Feeder

***Update as of 12/29/18*** - This product is no longer available.

If you're looking for a high tech version of an automatic cat feeder then this is definitely one you should consider. Not only does it have an app that let's you control feedings, but it also has a built in camera.

You can login whenever and feed your kitty and keep an eye on them while they eat too! Added bonus for you tech savvy folks that can't live without seeing your cat for a day. There are a couple things worth noting noting on this model:

  • Comes with a mobile app (Android and iOS compatible) to setup your feeding schedules or to manually feed your cat
  • There's built in audio and video so you can both see and talk to your cat while they eat
  • The locking lid helps keep food fresh and secure for an extended period of time
  • Each meal can be up to 10 portions and a portion is about 10 grams
  • It has a solid capacity at 4.5 liters and lets multiple family members login to feed your cat
  • Even if the feeder can't connect to the WiFi it will continue to feed on the set schedule 

A few things you may want to consider:

  • There is no battery backup for this model in case of a power outage
  • You'll need a router with a 2.4 GHz channel to use this model, be sure to check your router first

Additional Information


Why Would I Want An Auto Feeder?

There are lots of ​reasons people consider an automatic cat food dispenser in their home, but the most common reasons can be broken into a couple of key categories.

Sanity

Lots of cats are prone to wake their human companions up at all hours of the evening or morning meowing for food.  Auto feeders can help handle this issue quite easily by automatically releasing food for your kitty at any programmed time.

Note many cats make noise at night and people assume they want food. This activity is often because the cats don't get enough exercise during the day and they aren't tired so they don't go to sleep. Be sure your kitty is getting enough exercise!

Preventing Vomiting: 

Lots of cats have issues with eating very quickly and then getting sick even more quickly.  This if often driven by food anxiety. There are lots of different ways to deal with this, but an automatic feeder with a slow feeding function or with small portion control makes helps extensively.

If your cat cannot eat too much too fast then her stomach is unlikely to react poorly. Lots of small portions ensures your cat won't get sick all over the house!

an airplane flying

Short Term Travel & Long Working Hours 

If you travel often or perhaps work long hours then an automatic feeder can help relieve some of the stress of ensuring your feline friends get fed even if you're not around.  "Just set it and forget it." as the old saying goes.

Many feeders are also have tons of features that ensure you can login and see your cat and even talk to your cat through the built in speaker. It helps give you a touch of home while you're away which is always nice!

I myself travel extensively for work (usually on 24 hour trips) and it is always nice to be able to quickly login and see Beast or Lexi for a moment and watch them eat their dinner or their breakfast.

It is also nice when I get stuck at the office late because I don't need to worry about them waiting an extra few hours for me to get home and give them their dinner.

General Health & Medications 

Eating huge meals has proven to be just as poor for cat health as it is for human health. Eating smaller meals in more spread out periods throughout the day helps promote better health for your cat. At the least it encourages your cat to walk back to the feeder each time which is some exercise.

On top of this some cats, like diabetic cats, need to have meals at very consistent times to properly maintain blood sugar levels. You'll also find many cats that simply require daily medication can have it deployed in one of these auto feeders.

Simply put the treat and the medicine in one of the rotating disc type feeders and set the timer and your kitty will have their medicine right on time! This of course assumes your kitty will eat their medicine!


What Types of Features Are There?

Portion Control Options 

This option is available to control both the overall amount of food your cat eats as well as how much food is consumed at any one time.  This is important for keeping a limit on overall calorie intake and also ensures your cat won't end up vomiting if they eat too quickly.

Meal Programming Options

Depending on the design of your feeder this usually ranges from allowing 4 meals up a day up to 12 meals a day. This helps keep your cat's diet in check by controlling the total number of calories your cat eats and how often he or she eats.

There are some other feeders that will do as few as 2 meals or even 1 automated meal, but I didn't include any of these in my list for various reasons.

Dispensing Technology

This is one of the most important pieces of selection criteria because it will depend heavily on your cat's eating habits. There are a couple of main dispensing methods:

Disc Feeders: These have a tray that rotates for each feeding period. Food is prepared in advance and you can provide variability for your cat quite easily.

Pros of Disc Feeders:

  • Very simple in design and in use
  • Not prone to jamming like augur based feeders
  • Can be used with dry, semi moist and sometimes even moist food

Cons of Disc Feeders:

  • The most meals I've seen a disc feeder allow is 6
  • They don't have a reservoir so they usually require daily attention
  • Usually don't have any App based or internet capabilities

Reservoir Augur Feeders: These feeders have a large reservoir built into the top of them and they release a specific amount of food for each meal. The usually use an augur to do this. Food sits above and the augur turns to spin dry kibble out into the bowl.

Pros of Reservoir Augur Feeders:

  • Allow for a large number of meals to be programmed
  • Built in portion control capabilities 
  • Often more technically savvy: WiFi enabled, apps, webcam, etc.
  • Often allow for an immediate feeding button even when away

Cons of Reservoir Augur Feeders:

  • The augur can sometimes jam when food calls in it at a poor angle
  • Your cat will get the same food all the time, you can't mix dry and semi moist and wet

Reservoir Conveyor Feeders: These are less common, but they are unique in design in purpose. They are specifically designed to minimize bloating/vomiting in cats with food anxiety. They have a reservoir, but instead of using an augur they use a conveyor belt that can move at an incredibly slow rate to drop food out over a 15 minute period of time.

Pros of Reservoir Conveyor Feeders:

  • Slow motion food deployment to minimize bloating and vomiting
  • Otherwise same as reservoir augur feeders

Cons of Reservoir Conveyor Feeders:

  • Same as reservoir augur feeders

Meal Calls

This option allows you to record a message that plays each time a new meal is deposited into the bowl or rotated into the available eating slow. The purpose is to make your cat feel like you are feeding her even when you're not around.

It is also somewhat of an alert to let your cat know the food is out, but most cats know by the sound of the feeder after a few days. In fact, many of them learn the time that feeder drops food and they'll be there waiting for it before it even drops.

Cat Specific Access Control 

This is not a common feature, but it is definitely an important feature if you are trying to limit which cat has access to which food. The SureFeed Microchip feeder is the only feeder I know that has this capability.

It basically ensures that only a cat with a specific microchip can get into the feeder. This is essential when you have cats that are food thieves or when you simply want to feed one cat more than another cat.

Note that the SureFeed microchip feeder is not designed to stop a determined and aggressive cat or dog. It does a solid job of resisting being opened, but an aggressive animal can pry it open (and potentially damage it in the process) so be sure to keep an eye on it the first few times you use it.

Food/Water Combinations

This option basically combines a gravity driven water bowl with the food dispenser. It is simply intended to combine everything in one place for simplicity both in purchase and daily use. 

Note that research shows that cats are far more prone to drink running water from a fountain than they are to drink still water. This is assumed to be driven by instincts that tell cats still water is more likely to have diseases or parasites lurking in it.

Backup Battery Operation 

Most feeders function by being plugged into a standard wall outlet, but there are some that are completely battery driven too. Those that are plugged in often have a battery backup system in case the power goes out while you're away.

You can also use the batteries by default and put the feeder in a place that doesn't have a plug. Most feeders are low power consumption so the batteries will last for months.

Ice Packs / Cooling Tech

Some of the disc based feeders listed here will allow you to insert ice packs inside them to keep wet food cold. This is a huge benefit in keeping wet food fresh and will ensure it doesn't spoil throughout the day.  

It is important to note though that the air seal is probably the most important piece of keeping wet food fresh throughout the day. Usually air flow causes it to dry out and become stale and hard. Ice helps, but it won't solve the problem completely.


Which is Right For My Cat(s) and I?

Choosing the right feeder can be a bit of a complicated process because of the sheer number of options available on the market.  I recommend reviewing the features above in detail and determining which are important to you and your cats.

This should give you a good idea of the general type of feeder you'll need. But here's a quick example that might help. Let's suppose I'm in this situation:

  • I'm single and I have 2 adult cats and I work long hours
  • Once in a while I make overnight trips for work
  • My cats are both grazers and only eat when they are hungry
  • My cats like both wet and dry food

In this situation I'd likely go for a disc type feeder that allows for the insertion of ice packs. Then I would rotate both dry and wet food into the slots depending on my daily schedule.

Go through a similar process with your own cat(s) and you'll quickly identify the right type of feeder for you and your family. The rest of the features are mostly just additional benefits!


How Dependable Are They?

Auto feeders are growing more and more dependable by the day. Many of the feeders are now starting to feature tons of alerts and notifications if they encounter any sort of problem. These can be sent directly to your phone to let you know there's an issue you need to resolve. 

If you plan to depend on your feeder for any extended period of time I'd highly recommend buying it far in advance of any vacation or trip and testing it for several days first. Not only will this ensure you programmed it properly, but it'll ensure you didn't get a defective one shipped to you.

My personal opinion is that you should still have someone look in on your cats if you plan to leave for any long period of time. This ensures your kitty won't end up with a jammed feeder or a power surge blowing the feeder's circuits.


Can They Substitute for a Cat Sitter?

The resounding answer is absolutely not.  You should not expect an automatic feeder to do the job of a cat sitter. This is true no matter how many electronic gadgets you have around for your cat.  

We have lots of fun stuff in our house that is WiFi enabled and app enabled, but an automatic feeder doesn't do much beyond drop food in a bowl on a consistent basis and perhaps play a little recording of your voice.

Even if you go a step further and buy a webcam enabled version your cat likely doesn't really understand what is happening and where you are. Mostly they start to associate sound from the feeder with food coming from the feeder.

Automatic feeders are awesome for peace of mind when you're not available or when you're gone for a short period of time. 

But! And it is a big but! Your cat will still want interaction and attention if you leave the house for any extended period of time. On top of this you'll typically want the safety and security of knowing someone is going to check on your cat in case of a power outage or an emergency of some sort.

My personal opinion is that if you're leaving for more than 36 hours you should have someone stop in and check on your cat(s) whether they have an automated feeder or not. 

Check out my article full of tips from pro cat sitters to ensure you have a positive experience with yours.


What About the PawBot?

If you've heard of the PawBot and you're wondering why I don't have it listed then read on. If you're not familiar read on anyway for some news and a cool robot!

What is PawBot? It is basically a really cool robot that you can load full cans of wet food into for automatic feeding. PawBot will open the cans of food and deposit them in a bowl. It is pretty darn cool. You can check out the video below.

Why Isn't It Listed? The short answer is because it is currently unavailable. It is undergoing redesign to ensure that the costs come down to a price point that is more accessible by your typical cat owner!

When Will It Be Available? Unfortunately I don't know, but you can checkout the PawBot website and join their wait list to be updated immediately.


Wrap Up on the Best Automatic Cat Feeders

There are a boatload of automatic cat feeders out there and finding what you're looking for can be quite the endeavor. Even more so if you have unique requirements like locking specific pets out of the feeder.

The counter to this is that there are also a boatload of great feeders out there that will meet almost any need! This means you're almost certain to find one that fits you and your cat(s) perfectly.

If you've got a feeder or food dispenser that you use for your cat and I don't have it on the list then please let me know. I want to ensure when people find this page they find the best automatic cat feeders available.

Please leave a comment below if you have any experience to share or questions about these feeders.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

References: WOpet, PetSafe, SureFeed, HoneyGuardian, ArfPets

Gizmo – Cats Of the Week – November 5th, 2018

gizmo the cat laying down

Everyone meet this week's Cat of the Week! Gizmo comes to us from The Larsons and we thank them for the submission! 

Gizmo posing

The Larsons brought Gizmo home from a farm in Minnesota in the spring of 2008 when he was just a kitty. It is hard for the family to believe he'll be eleven years old in the Spring! 

Gizmo looks just like another cat the Larsons had, Tigger, who lived to be 21, and they thought he would be a good companion so they brought him home to join the family. Gizmo is their only fur baby now and he is very spoiled.

gizmo yawning

Gizmo is very dog-like in that he loves his toys! He loves to chase rubber bouncy balls around the house and he plays with tennis balls too. At first his family thought Gizmo was a little odd because he didn't seem to like getting into boxes like most cats (my cats don't either!!!), but we just recently discovered he does like cardboard boxes. It just requires a special type of box with short sides and no flaps. (It seems I have some experimenting to do with Lexi and Beast!)

He also has a little stuffed dog named Chloe that he likes to leave in strange places around the house, frequently in a standing position.

Gizmo showing off

Gizmo likes to pose for pictures. Sometimes, when his family start taking photos he'll move into three or four different positions so they can shoot him like the paparazzi. Gizmo hams it up. He also knows the meaning of the word "snack" and comes running whenever someone says it.

gizmo giving the 'dude' look

Gizmo always knows exactly when it's feeding time and will frequently headbutt his dad as a reminder. If it's past his feeding time he'll jump on the arm of the sofa and give his dad an expression that says "Dude, you know my feeding time was TWO WHOLE MINUTES AGO."

Gizmo being pet shamed

Occasionally the Larsons get a mouse in the house and Gizmo will stay up all night hunting it, but he's not very good at finishing the job as you can see. He gets a bit of pet shaming for it when it happens!

gizmo relaxing

Gizmo has so many nicknames it's hard to keep track of them all. Gizmo, Gizzy Poo Poo, The Giz, Galloping Giz, Baby Mo, Fatty Boom Batty and many more. He also has a voice, invented by his Dad, that all the members of his family use when they talk for him. 

gizmo showing off his soft fluff

Gizmo is very cuddly and lovable and loves to be petted on his head and cheeks. He gets brushed a lot too, so he's very soft, especially his belly and chest as you can see above. Gizmo is very much loved and an important member of the Larson family.

StuffCatsWant thanks The Larsons for participating as Cat of the Week!  To submit your cat please email Craig@StuffCatsWant.com and include 5 pictures and 400 words about your cat!

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Pioneer Pet Feed & Supply – What a Store!

Pioneer Pet and Feed Entrance

On a recent visit to Seattle we were wandering the streets of Pioneer Square and happened across the signs below.  Not only were they quite intriguing, I had never heard of a catnip joint before, but they also struck a chord with me comically. We had to check it out.

store entrance a street level

We were greeted shortly there after with some stairs down into one of the old buildings of Seattle. And at the base we found Pioneer Pet Feed and Supply! If you've ever done the Underground Tour you'd quickly wonder how this particular building still had an active basement shop running!

But never mind all that!  As soon as we entered we were greeted by two shop cats! No lots of stores in Chicago have a cat or perhaps a dog that is around while the owners are in the store, but rarely have I managed to meet a pair of shop cats!

Meet Vito and Ivar! Two beautiful orange Tabby boys that keep an eye on the shop and make it their home 24 hours a day! They even have their own amazing built in condo that they hang out in at night while the shop owner is gone for the evening.

Vigo and Ivar

Despite appearances in the picture, both of the kitties quickly came around for pets and scratches and were absolute love bugs.

When they weren't getting pets and scratches they were exploring the store and keeping an eye out for suckers. I mean customers. And boy did they find some suckers to give them treats, more on that soon...

But what surprised me the most was that they seemed pretty used to all the people and the toys. They of course knew that they could get treats from the people if they were lucky, but they were mostly apathetic about the huge wall of toys available to them. I guess they are spoiled by having so many available all the time!

A wall of cat toys

But I digress.  The primary reason I wanted to bring this store to your attention is two fold.

  1. ​The owner, David, is an extremely cool gentlemen and he is super knowledgeable about all things cat and dog. We talked to him for a solid 30 minutes about all sorts of random topics and he was teaching us things the entire time.
  2. ​Beyond that, ​David also knew just the things to point us to when it came to toys or treats we could bring home to our own little fur balls back in Chicago. And the key item that he called out for us where the Churu's from Inaba.
inaba churu cat treats

At first I'll admit, I was a little bit skeptical on whether or not cats would really want to eat this type of treat. But he popped one open and let us feed it to Vito and Ivar. You could tell they absolutely loved these treats. They licked the package right down to the tail end, there wasn't even a tiny little bit left when they were done!

vito and ivar eating an inaba churu treat

For those interested you can check out this minute long video of them both chowing down the entire package! ​

Once they finished eating their Churus they both immediately got back to work manning the front desk. They kept an eye out for any other unsuspecting strangers they might be able to trick into giving them another snack! Unfortunately we weren't able to stick around too long as we had an appointment to catch, but they certainly saw us out as we left the store.

If you're in the market for a huge variety of toys and treats, a pair of super cool shop cats, and a really awesome and knowledgeable owner about all things pet (and actually Seattle history) then come check out Pioneer Pet Feed & Supply!  Tell Vito and Ivar hello for me and say hi to David as well!

And be sure to check out the Churu's from Inabu!

Phera – Cat Of Halloween Week – October 29th, 2018

a black cat in a basket

This week's cat of the week is Phera! Phera comes submitted to us by reddit user akatuesday and we thank her for the submission!

I specifically chose a black cat as cat of the week because they ​sometimes get a bad reputation, especially around Halloween. But black cats are amazing! They are tons of fun and just as cool as any ​other type of feline. And there are over 22 different breeds of cats that can be completely black! So let's get to Phera!

Black cats just seem to find their way to ​akatuesday's family. They found Phera as a teeny, tiny stray kitten underneath a truck that was parked near ​their house. No mom cat or rest of the litter in sight. ​They believe she was the runt.

Phera the black cat on the back of the couch

About a month before ​they found ​Phera ​they had to put ​their beloved Andy to sleep. ​Andy had been a black cat ​rescued as a kitten as well. ​akatuesday's dad had decided no more new cats as ​they already had 3 others. But the universe gave ​them Phera.

​They caught ​Phera in a blanket and took her back to ​the house where ​dad said, “No way are you bringing that cat inside.” So ​they tried to put ​Phera in an old ​kennel ​but she was so little that she slipped through the bars and got out. 

Phera relaxing on her cat tree

akatuesday then disobediently took ​Phera to ​her bedroom and waited for ​her mom to get home. ​Phera has pretty much ruled over the house ever since that day. As you can see above, she loves relaxing on her cat ​tree!

Phera absolutely loves attention but doesn't much like ​other cats! ​Oddly enough enjoys wrestling with the family dog.

​Phera has a very pushy personality, she will nudge you with her head or bat you with a paw until she gets what she wants.

She is very vocal and will meow and trill in response to anything so long as she feels important. My cats do this too whenever they want attention, usually ​it means they want to play before going to sleep!

Phera chilling on her cat castle

​The family has always called her ​their little Halloween cat because she will walk around with her back arched way up meowing for attention. She posed quite nicely for these photos​ because her little ego is inflated over how much attention she got over her cauldron photo.

Phera the cat in the Halloween Cauldron

​The cauldron was purely a naughty moment of if she fits, she sits. She pulled a trick or treat. "Pet me and I might move in a few hours so you can have your smooshed treats." If she could ​speak English she would say she is elated to be a cat of the week and she’s excited for All Hallows Eve!

StuffCatsWant thanks ​Phera and ​her family for participating as Cat of the Week!  To submit your cat please email Craig@StuffCatsWant.com and include 5 pictures and 400 words about your cat!

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Theon – Cat Of the Week – October 22nd, 2018

black and white cat theon

This week's cat of the week is Theon! He comes submitted to us by Anna and her family! Theon is still pretty young, only about six months old. They adopted him from the local Humane Society.

Anna and her family went in to look at cats and Theon arrived on the floor about ten minutes after they got there. He was so adorable that they all instantly fell in love and just had to take him home that day! 

Theon is a very patient cat. His older human brothers, both 7 and 10, pick Theon up and haul him around and play with him. He doesn't complain one bit and loves every minute of it!

His only complaint is that when his brother's go outside to play he wants to go too! Every time they go outside Theon sits by the door and meows and waits for them to come back. He of course wants to join in the fun!

Theon the cat laying in the bath tub

Theon also loves to chase around little pieces of paper. He also loves to get inside boxes and even lay in the bathtub. Sounds to me given his desire to go outside and his like of boxes he might like a Fat Cat Backpack! Looks like he wasn't quite expecting a picture while he was relaxing in the tub!

Theon is super soft and fluffy and has been the perfect addition to Anna's family. It looks like over the long haul they might need to get this little guy an amazing brush to keep his floof in check!

StuffCatsWant thanks Theon and his family for participating as Cat of the Week!  To submit your cat please email Craig@StuffCatsWant.com and include 5 pictures and 400 words about your cat!

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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